ES2425950T3 - Housing for a fiber optic assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A housing (2) for a fiber optic assembly for an optical cable (8) composed of multiple fiber optic elements forming a first loop (L1) and a second loop (L2), said housing (2) comprising a first set of guiding means (46) defining a first plane (P1) to receive the first loop (L1) and a second set of guiding means (28, 48, 56) defining a second plane (P2) to receive the second loop (L2 , 24), in which the planes (P1, P2) maintain a substantial angle, between 40 ° and 90 °, characterized in that the first set of guiding means (46) is provided around the second set of means (28, 48.56) guide so that, in the received state, the first loop (L1) surrounds the second loop (L2), respectively.

Description

Housing for a fiber optic assembly

The present invention relates to a housing according to the preamble of claim 1, which is adapted to accommodate an optical fiber assembly for an optical cable composed of multiple optical fiber elements. Such housing is known from EP-A-1 316 829.

When a user is connected to an optical cable, it is quite common that only a few or even only one fiber optic element of the optical cable need to be spliced to be connected to the user. In such a case, most of the fiber optic elements included in the optical cable could pass through a housing that provides protection and a seal for the at least one splice without alteration. However, to splice a single fiber optic element, or multiple elements, a certain length of said fiber optic elements must be available as such. Consequently, it is necessary to remove a sheath that surrounds the selected fiber optic element, which generally surrounds clustered fiber optic elements, to obtain a respective length of optical fiber without a sheath.

In the event that multiple groups of fiber optic elements, each surrounded by a separate sheath, are comprised in a single optical cable, this will also normally be surrounded by a cable sheath. To provide access to one of these fiber elements, the sheath of the optical cable will need to be removed. In addition, the sheath around a group of fiber optic elements needs to be removed to access the separate fiber optic element, or to multiple elements separated therefrom, to access them.

When the separate fiber optic elements are connected, a sufficient length of these fiber optic elements has to be separated from the sheath. Since all fiber optic elements are part of the single optical cable, the remaining fiber optic elements or the grouped fiber optic elements will be available with a respective length at the junction of the separate fiber optic element.

In general, these remaining fiber optic elements will form a second loop that is received inside the housing. As mentioned above, the at least one selected fiber optic element after being connected with a splice will be wound in the first loop. Both loops must be retained in the housing.

EP 0 717 862 discloses an optical fiber assembly having a housing and at least one splice provided for an optical fiber element that is separated from the remaining optical fiber elements of said optical cable. This fiber optic element forms a first loop. In addition, a second loop is provided within the housing that is formed by remaining fiber optic elements. These remaining fiber optic elements may comprise all the optical fiber elements of the optical cable, except for the separate fiber optic element (s) or parts of the remaining fiber optic elements, except the separate fiber element (s), by passing the elements additional fiber cable, for example, outside the housing or by storing them in additional loops. In the fiber optic assembly of EP 0 717 862 the first loop of separate fiber optic elements is retained in a tray that provides a splice receiving section adapted to receive at least one splice. Other fiber optic elements of the optical cable are retained in other trays, each forming second loops.

To provide a compact fiber optic assembly that also provides the opportunity to store the first and second loops separately within the housing, the present invention provides a housing as defined in claim 1. In this housing, both loops of such that each one extends in planes, planes that maintain a substantial angle. The substantial angle is between 40 ° and 90 °, preferably between 60 ° and 90 °, which has resulted in a perpendicular arrangement of both loops has provided an extremely compact way of storing the two loops inside the housing.

Such an arrangement provides the opportunity to store the first and second loops in a fairly dense but well organized manner within the housing. On a regular basis, the second loop of remaining fiber optic elements will form the inner loop while the first loop surrounds this second loop of remaining fiber optic elements. One or more separate fiber optic elements may be provided within the housing with their respective ends connected to an optical cable of the output line. The remaining length of said optical cable of the output line and / or of said or said separate fiber optic elements may be part of the first loop. The separate fiber optic element as well as the optical cable of the output line can be arranged inside the housing without crossing or intersecting with the remaining fiber optic elements or groups of such fiber optic elements.

With the present invention, a housing is provided, in which the remaining fiber optic elements can form a second loop that will not interfere in the case of connecting the at least one separate fiber optic element with an optical cable of the power line. output by means of a joint. Such connection work will be carried out only on one or more fiber optic elements that have been separated, that is, split from the optical cable. These separate fiber optic elements are passed to a reception section of the first loop in the

that said separate fiber optic elements may be subject to work without interfering with the remaining fiber optic elements of the second loop.

The housing provides first and second sets of guiding means. The first set of guide means is adapted to receive the first loop; The second set of guide means is adapted to receive the second loop in such a way that two loops are received in the respective planes. As guide means, all means that are suitable for storing and retaining the respective loops within the housing are applicable. With the above described preferred embodiment of the inventions, very compact storage of both loops within the housing can be achieved.

Preferably, the first and second sets of guide means of those provided within the housing are arranged so that the loops are contained in planes that interact with each other in a position that essentially corresponds to the greater extent of both loops. Preferably, the second set of guide means is arranged such that the second loop is preferably arranged in the center of the first loop. With this preferred embodiment, the first loop is arranged approximately halfway up the second loop and is surrounding the second loop.

Additional preferred embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The present invention also proposes an optical fiber assembly of an optical cable composed of multiple optical fiber elements. Said fiber optic assembly comprises at least one fiber optic spliced element that is separated from the remaining fiber optic elements of the optical cable and forms a first loop while all remaining fiber optic elements, or part thereof, form the minus a second loop. According to the invention, the first and second loops are accommodated in the inventive housing so that they extend in planes, keeping these planes at a substantial angle.

The present invention will now be described in more detail when referring to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

Fig. 1

It shows a view from above in perspective of the embodiment;

Fig. 2

It shows a view from above according to Fig. 1 with the tray tilted away from the lower body of the

accommodation;

Fig. 2b

It shows a view from above according to Fig. 1 with the tray removed

Fig. 3

It shows a top perspective view of the lower body of the housing without an element of

insert

Fig. 4

It shows a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV according to Fig. 1 and

Fig. 5

schematically shows the mutual arrangement of both loops.

Fig. 1 shows a top perspective view of a lower body of the housing generally identified with the reference number 2 providing first and second access ways 4, 6 for an optical cable 8 that is received within the housing that it is composed of the lower body 2 of the housing and an upper body 3 of the housing, which is adapted to form a tightly sealed housing in cooperation with the lower body 2 of the housing. Normally, both housings receive one or more sealing elements made of, for example, gel, rubber, putty or a pressure sensitive adhesive that are adapted to allow the optical cable 8 to pass through the track 4, 6 of access. For this, the lower body 2 of the housing has a longitudinal sealing groove 10, which extends parallel to the longitudinal extension of the lower body 2 of the housing and is provided on a side edge thereof. In addition, gel sealing elements 12 are provided on the transverse sides of the lower body 2 of the housing, each of said gel sealing elements 12 providing the access paths 6, 8 for the optical fiber 8 and sealing the optical fiber 8 against an internal space provided by the housing.

As is evident from Fig. 3, the lower body 2 of the housing provides an insert receiving recess 14 to receive an insert element generally identified with the reference number 16. Said insert element provides retention sections 18 of the optical cable to receive the entire optical cable 8 and fix said optical cable 8 to said insert element 16. This fixation can be achieved, for example, by means of a known wire harness that generally holds the optical cable 8 against the insert 16.

Towards the interior of said optical cable retention sections 18, a sheath 20 is removed from the cable surrounding the optical cable 8 and forms the outer surface thereof, thereby making available groups of denoted fiber optic elements, in general, with the reference number 22. These groups 22 of fiber optic elements have a total length of multiple times the distance between opposite ends of the cable sheath 20. This full length of these groups 22 of fiber optic elements is retained in a second loop 22, which is

disposed essentially perpendicularly with respect to the plane of separation of the housing between both bodies of a closed housing. This separation plane / upper face of the lower body 2 of the housing is identified with the reference number 26 and essentially corresponds to the upper lateral surface of the lower body 2 of the housing.

As is evident from the cross-sectional view according to Fig. 4, approximately two thirds of the second loop 24 extend from the separation plane 26. The lower third of the height of the second loop 24 is received within the lower body 2 of the housing. For this, the insert element 16 has a recess 28 for receiving the loop, essentially the lateral sides thereof being formed by walls 30 provided by the insert element 16 and the base 32 of which is formed by the lower part of the body bottom 2 of the housing (compare with Fig. 3).

On one side face, the insert element 16 provides articulation posts 34, which extend from the separation plane 26 and cooperate with articulation elements 36 provided by a tray 38 which is pivotally supported by the insert element 16 and , therefore, by the lower body 2 of the housing by means of articulation 34/36 (compare with Fig. 2).

The tray 36 comprises a support plate 40, which is extended on both sides by a lower flange 42 and an upper flange 44, respectively and is provided with multiple recesses 41 adapted to allow an optical fiber to pass through them. As is evident from Fig. 1, tray 36 provides a retention section 46 of the first loop provided immediately adjacent to the inner side of the upper flange 44. In addition, tray 38 has an arc element 48 extending from the support plate 40 and is arranged in the center of the tray 38 in a longitudinal extension corresponding to that of the optical cable 8.

A retaining section 52 of the third loop is provided on the lower side of the support plate 40 and between the inner face of the lower flange 42 and the internal extensions 50. In alignment with the optical cable 8, support means 54 of the optical cable are provided which are adapted to cooperate with the outer circumference of the optical cable 8 and are recessed to allow the introduction of a third loop of fiber optic elements in said section 52 of retention of the third loop. The support plate 40 provides a longitudinal recess 56 that is surrounded by a rectangular flange section 58 that extends from the bottom side of the support plate 40.

As is evident from Fig. 2, the second loop 42 with its part extending from the insert 16 is received in a retention clamp 60 which is fixed to the insert 16 by means of a joint 60a and Quick fit elements 60b for firmly retaining the retaining clamp by quick fitting. This retaining clamp 60 of the second loop 60 provides an upper face 62 that protects the upper section of the second loop 42. The retaining clamp 60 of the second loop is adapted to be received in the longitudinal recess 56 of the tray 38.

To access a single fiber optic element comprising a single group of fiber optic elements not shown in Figures 1 to 4, the respective group of fiber optic elements is separated from all other groups 22 of fiber optic elements that they form the second loop 22. These separate fiber optic elements that may be covered by an individual sheath will be stored in tray 38. On a regular basis, the sheath surrounding this group of fiber optic elements is removed to a length sufficient to allow splicing of individual fiber optic elements from the selected group of fiber optic elements. The fiber optic elements between the selected group that will not be connected to another fiber optic cable by means of a splice, will be retained in the retaining section 52 of the third loop, that is, in the lower part below the plate 40 of support and in front of the insert element 16. These separate fiber optic elements that will be connected to an optical cable by means of a splice, will be led to the upper section of the tray 38 by pushing those fiber optic elements through one of the recesses 41 provided in the plate 40 of support.

This assembly is carried out with the tray 38 retained in a position shown in Fig. 2, in which the tray 38 is articulated at an angle of approximately 100 ° with respect to the separation 26 of the lower body 2 of the housing. In this position, a stop 63 provided on the outer circumference of the insert 38 and in a position between the articulation elements 36 will cooperate with a wall extending from the insert element 16 to ensure the position shown in Figure 2.

After the third loop of the fiber optic elements is retained in the retention section 52 of the third loop, and that selected separate fiber optic elements have been passed through the support plate 40 to the upper side of the tray 38, this will be pivoted around joint 34/36. Thus, the loop retention clamp 60 is inserted into the longitudinal recess 56 until the upper face 62 of the second loop retention clamp 60 rests against a support face 64 formed by the arc element 48. In addition, the underside of the support plate 40 will rest on supports 66 that extend from a base portion of the insert 16 and which are formed therein. Between these supports 66 a quick-fit element 68 is provided which cooperates with a quick-fit bar 70 that extends from the underside of the tray 38. By means of this quick-fit mechanism 68, 70, the plate 40 is fixed of support of the tray 38 in a position essentially parallel to the plane 26 of separation, that is, to the extension of the optical cable 8. Fixed and held in this way in place with respect to the lower body of the housing,

above said tray 38, a splicing operation can be carried out to connect the selected separate fiber optic element, for example, with an optical cable of the output line. After said splicing operation is carried out in a well known manner, the separate fiber optic elements provided on the upper side of the tray 38 are formed to provide a first loop and are retained in the retention section 46 of the first loop Before connecting an additional optical cable of the output line to the separate fiber optic element, the end of the optical cable of the output line can also be introduced through a recess 41 of the tray support plate 40 38. Preferably, this is done in front of the location where the separated fiber optic element (s) are introduced through the support plate 40. With such an arrangement of separate fiber optic elements and fiber elements of a fiber optic cable from the output line above the support plate 40, interference and crosslinking of the remaining fiber optic elements can be avoided. Although the remaining fiber optic elements connected to a fiber optic cable of the output line form the second loop 24 and are arranged on the upper side of the support plate 40, the others dead, that is, the elements not connected Fiber optic can be retained on the other side of the support plate 40 in the retaining section 52 of the third loop. The first loop extends parallel to the two loops in a plane above the level of the optical cable 8.

The compact arrangement of all the essential elements of the described embodiment of a fiber optic assembly is outlined in the schematic drawing of Figure 5. Both loops, L1 and L2, extend in planes that are identified with P1, P2, respectively. For a better understanding of the inventive concept of compact storage of fiber optic elements that have different functions within a housing, the following explanations refer to planes and it is assumed that each loop extends in a single plane. As is evident, for example, from Figure 2 and general consideration, all loops have a perpendicular extension of a plane in which they extend. This fact should not be denied with the following explanations.

Figure 5 shows a parallel extension of the plane P1 with the extension of the optical cable 8. In addition, also, the plane P2 extends parallel to the longitudinal extension of the optical cable 8. However, the axis of the optical cable 8 is in the P2 plane. The second loop L2 has a maximum extension LMAX in the direction parallel to the optical cable 8. This maximum length LMAX is contained in the plane P1 which also receives the first loop L1. The first loop L1 surrounds the second loop L2, that is, it is provided around the second loop L2.

Although Figure 5 represents an example of a compact arrangement of both loops, the optical cable can also be arranged essentially concentric to LMAX of the second loop, the eccentric plane P1 being arranged with respect to said optical cable and slightly above LMAX . This condition is embodied, for example, in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. Here, the first loop L1 is disposed approximately midway between the optical cable 8 and H / 2, with H being the height of the second loop L2 in a P2 plane.

The arrangement described above provides ease of access to both the remaining fiber optic elements that provide the second loop L2, 24 and the separate fiber optic elements that can be spliced on top of the tray 38 in a position shown in Fig. 2. In the event that the fiber optic elements that are separated from the second loop 24 and provided in the retaining section 52 of the third loop are to be spliced with an additional optical cable from the output line, those additional fiber elements Fiber optic can also be passed through the support plate 40 to provide splices in the manner described above. Although not shown in the drawing, splice retention sections are provided on the upper side of the support plate 40. Consequently, once a splice is made, the splice element can be retained and fixed against the tray 38 in a predetermined manner.

After all the splices have been made, the housing is closed by means of an upper body of the housing that will be sealed against the lower body 2 of the housing by means of the gel sealing element 12 and a lateral sealing element received in each of the sealing grooves 10. With this, the optical fiber elements of the optical cable 8, which has been made accessible by removing the sheath 20 of the cable, are received tightly inside the housing.

Reference list

L1 first loop

L2 second loop

P1 foreground

P2 background

LMAX maximum extension of the second L2 loop in a direction parallel to the optical cable 8

H maximum extension of the L2 loop in the P2 plane 3 upper body 4 first access path 6 second access path 8 optical cable

2

lower body

25

2

 sealing groove 12 sealing element with gel sealing 14 insert recess 16 insert element 18 optical cable retention sections

cable sheath 22 fiber optic element group 24 second loop 26 separation plane 28 loop host recess

 side wall 32 base 34 articulation posts 36 articulation elements 38 tray

support plate 41 recess 42 lower flange 44 upper flange 46 first loop retention section 48 arc element

 internal extension 52 third loop retention section 54 optical cable support means 56 longitudinal recess 58 rectangular flange

second loop retention clamp 60a joint 60b quick fit elements 62 top face 63 stop 64 support face

66

 support

68

quick lace element

70

quick lace bar.

Claims (13)

1. A housing (2) for an optical fiber assembly for an optical cable (8) composed of multiple fiber optic elements forming a first loop (L1) and a second loop (L2), said housing (2) comprising a first set of guide means (46) defining a first plane (P1) to receive the first loop (L1) and 5 a second set of guide means (28, 48, 56) defining a second plane (P2) to receive the second loop (L2, 24), in which the planes (P1, P2) maintain a substantial angle, between 40 ° and 90 °, characterized because The first set of guiding means (46) is provided around the second set of guiding means (28, 48, 56) so as to allow, in the received state, that the first loop (L1) surrounds the second loop 10 (L2), respectively.

2.

The housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the substantial angle is between 60 ° and 90 °.

3.

The housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a tray (38) contained within said housing (2), said tray (38) being adapted to retain the first loop (L1).

The housing according to claim 3, characterized in that said tray (38) has at least one splice receiving means for receiving a splice.

5.

The housing according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said tray (38) has a longitudinal recess (56) adapted to receive said second loop (24).

6.

The housing according to claim 5, characterized in that said housing accommodates a clamp (60)

20 of retention of the second loop that is removably retained by a body (2) of the housing and that extends through the longitudinal recess (56). 7. The housing according to claim 6, characterized in that said tray (38) comprises an element (48) arc that extends over the longitudinal recess (56) and forms a support face (64) cooperating with an upper face (62) of said retaining clamp (60) of the second loop. The housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing comprises a lower body (2) of the housing and an upper body of the housing enclosing between the same access paths (4, 6) for the optical cable (8 ). 9. The housing according to claim 8 in combination with any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that said tray (38) is arranged essentially in parallel with the plane (26) of separation between the two bodies (2) of the housing and the access tracks (4, 6) for the optical cable (8). The housing according to claim 8 in combination with any one of claims 3 to 7 or according to claim 9, characterized in that said tray (38) is articulated with said lower body (2) of the housing, so that the tray (38) can be tilted more than 90 ° from one position essentially parallel to the separation plane (26) to a position in which said tray (38) extends from said lower body (2) of the housing in a predetermined manner. 11. The housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower body (2) of the housing provides a loop receiving recess (28) for receiving a lower section of said second loop (24). 12. The housing according to claim 11, characterized in that said loop receiving recess (28) is provided by an insert element (16) inserted in said lower body (2) of the housing. 13. The housing according to claim 11 or 12, characterized by a tray (38) that is adapted to retain said first loop (L1) and comprises a longitudinal recess (56) adapted to be extended by said second loop (L2), of such that said first and second loops (L1; L2) are retained in said housing extending essentially perpendicular to each other. The housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first set of guide means (46) and said second set of guide means (28, 48, 56) are adapted to retain said first loop (L1) which said second loop surrounds (L2). 15. The housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first set of guide means (46) and said second set of guide means (28, 48, 56) are adapted 50 to retain said loops (L1, L2), so that their planes (L1; L2) intersect in a position of maximum extension (LMAX) of both loops (L1; L2).

16.

The fiber optic assembly for an optical cable (8) composed of multiple fiber optic elements (22), which

understands:

a housing (2) as defined in any of the preceding claims,

at least one fiber optic spliced element that is separated from the remaining elements (22) of

5

optical fiber of said optical cable (8), wherein said at least one separate fiber optic element forms

a first loop (L1) and in which the remaining fiber optic elements (22) form at least one second

loop (24), and

in which both loops (L1; L2) are received in said housing (2) in such a way that each

extends in planes (P1; P2), keeping the planes (P1, P2) at a substantial angle,

10

characterized because

The first loop (L1) surrounds the second loop (L2).